Canadian forward Natalie Spooner, who only one week ago was crowned as the PWHL’s inaugural MVP, was today awarded the IIHF’s Female Player Of The Year Award for the 2023-24 season, capping off a spectacular campaign that saw Spooner capture her third World Championship title.

Spooner, who had an unusually more subdued World Championships in Utica with only one goal and four points in seven games en route to Canada’s third Gold in four tournaments, spent the pro season smashing records in the first-ever season of the PWHL, scoring a staggering 20 goals and 27 points in only 24 games for PWHL Toronto.

The 33-year old Spooner seemed destined to lead Toronto to being the first-ever Walter Cup champions, until injury derailed her in Game 3 of the PWHL Semifinals, and without her, PWHL Minnesota won three straight to eliminate the league’s top squad and become eventual champions. In addition to the league MVP, Spooner also won the league goals and points titles, and was named Forward Of The Year.

As mentioned, 2024 served as Spooner’s third Gold medal, following wins in 2012 and 2021, added to seven Silver (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023) and one Bronze (2019) at the Worlds. Spooner has also captured two Gold (2014, 2022) and one Silver (2018) medals at the Olympics, and captured the Clarkson Cup in 2014 – surely her eyes are on the Walter Cup for 2025 to complete her trophy cabinet, and become an unofficial member of the women’s Triple Gold Club.

Spooner received 33.6% of the vote to win the trophy, beating out Alex Carpenter (14.6%) of the United States, teammate and Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin (11.5%), Alina Müller (9.1%) of Switzerland, Jenni Hiirikoski (8.3%) of Finland and Sandra Abstreiter (7.9%) of Germany.

Photo Credit: IIHF – IIHF – HHOF – IOC